Can Diatomic Gas Molecules Convert Translational Velocity into Angular Velocity?

[Nuklear99]

I think I have a somewhat simple question but I can't seem to find the answer online.. I know that the internal energy of diatomic molecules is presumed to be equally shared in the rotational and translational degrees of freedom.. My question is this...

Do Diatomic gas molecules convert some translational velocity into angular velocity & vice versa? I'm guessing that individual molecules have varying rotating and linear speeds. So I'm wondering if my assumption is correct that one molecule's linear velocity can change the angular velocity of another; possibly it increases it's own angular velocity in the process? I don't know..

Any clarification here would be much appreciated, Thank You..

 

[BigJDubs]

No, diatomic gas molecules do not convert some of their translational velocity into angular velocity or vice versa. This is because the velocity of a diatomic gas molecule is determined by its kinetic energy, which is shared between its translational and rotational degrees of freedom. Therefore, when the kinetic energy of the molecule changes, its translational and rotational velocity both change in response. However, the change in velocity of one molecule does not affect the velocity of another molecule.